Dr. Edward O'Loughlin

Edward O’Loughlin is an environmental chemist/microbiologist specializing in the biogeochemical processes controlling the cycling of major/minor elements and the fate and transport of contaminants in natural systems. He has been studying biogeochemical processes in aquatic and terrestrial systems for 30 years, the last 20 of which have been with the Biogeochemical Processes Group in the Biosciences Division at Argonne National Laboratory. His current research focuses on the effects of microbial transformations of carbon, iron, and sulfur on the fate and transport of uranium and mercury in subsurface environments. He is also focused on investigating microbial contributions to the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from aquatic and terrestrial environments. His previous research efforts have focused on characterization of natural organic matter, particularly humic and fulvic acids, and investigation of biotic (microbial) and abiotic (chemical) transformations of organic contaminants, including chlorinated solvents (PCE, TCE, carbon tetrachloride, etc.), organotin biocides (tributyltin), and aromatic N-heterocycles (pyridine, quinolone, etc.).